Ranieri summoned to Juve HQ
Tuesday 5 May, 2009
Claudio Ranieri was called to the Juventus headquarters today for a crisis meeting, but so far everyone is keeping tight-lipped.
The Coach is under fire after going seven games without a victory, as the team has dropped out of the title race, the Champions League and Coppa Italia, while even third place is now at risk.
He was called in for a meeting with general manager Jean-Claude Blanc this morning and remained for an hour in the Corso Galileo Ferraris office.
“It was a perfectly normal meeting and there was no discussion about a sacking at the end of the season,” assured Blanc.
It is believed Ranieri is no longer part of the Juventus project, although they are reticent to fire anyone mid-season.
Blanc and director of sport Alessio Secco then went into the locker room for a 90-minute meeting with the squad and Coach, working through the causes of their recent setbacks.
The upcoming clash with second-placed Milan is crucial and another embarrassing result could see Ranieri offer his resignation.
Former defender Ciro Ferrara has been tipped as a caretaker Coach for the remaining weeks of the season, with the likes of Antonio Conte, Luciano Spalletti and Gian Piero Gasperini on the cards for next term.
It will be a tricky test against the Rossoneri, as on top of the usual injury crisis they’ll be missing the suspended Pavel Nedved and Olof Mellberg.
Nicola Legrottaglie and Zdenek Grygera did not take part in today’s training session due to bruised ankles.
source:
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may5p.html